Automatic pipe clamp



March 17. 1925.

T. SHARP AUTOMAII C PI PE CL AMP Filed March 31, 1922 Patented Mar. 17,1925.

TEMPLE SHARP, OF MOUNTAINAIR, NEW Iv'IE XICO.

AUTOMATIC PIPE CLAMP.

Application filed March 31, 1922. Serial No. 548,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that TEMPLE SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residingat Mountainair, in the county of Torrance and State of New Mexico, hasinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Pipe Clamps,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference generally to improvements in a clamp andmore particularly relates to an automatic pipe clamp.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a pipe clamp comprisinga frame that is adapted to be placed over an opening into a well andhaving a pair of clamping aws journaled in the casing and so arrangedand positioned that the jaws will grip and firmly hold a pipe of anysize.

My improved pipe clamp is not only capable of definite adjust-ability todifferent size pipes, but the limitof closing of the gripping jaws isautomatically determined and. secured by the pipe itself without anybiting or other injurious contact with the material of the pipe.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thischaracter, that is simple in operation and construction, durable,eliicient for the purpose intended, and one that can be manufactured andplaced on the market at a relatively low cost.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangementof the various parts of the device will be brought out more in detail inthe description to follow, which, for clear understanding of theinvention, should be considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part thereof and wherein is dis closed for thepurpose of illustration, a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of theinvention. It is to be noted in this connection, that minor changes inthe construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention, or the principle of the operation ofthe various parts.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clamp.

Figure 2 is a top plan of same. Figure 3 is a vertical transversesection through one of the clamping jaws removed from the casing.

Figure at is a side elevation of one of the end walls of the casing, and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of same. Referring to the drawings indetail, like numerals will be used to designate like parts in thediii'erent views.v

The numeral 1 denotes a casing adapted to be positioned over a well orany other place where it is desired to lower and hold a pipe.

The casing 1 comprises side walls 2, and an end wall 3, which are heldin an assembled position by fastening bolts 4.

Positioned within the position v1 and journaled for rotation on therespective shafts 5 are pipe clamping jaws 6 and 7, and same areconstructed of any suitable material. Each of the jaws 6 and 7 arecoi'istructed with an arcuated face 8, that is provided with a taperingcorrugated groove 9.

A metal plate 12 is attached to each of the jaws and is positionedbetween the jaws and one of the side walls 2. The metal plates 12 eachhave an arcuated edge 13 that is provided with teeth, 14L that areadapted to mesh with each other.

Mounted on one end of one of the shafts 5, as indicated by the numeral15 is a foot pedal 16.

In the operation of my invention, as in the act of lowering a pipe intoa well, pressure is placed on the foot pedal 16, which causes the jaws 6and 7 to rotate by means of the cogs formed on the metal plate, whichcauses the jaws'to open to their full width which permits a pipe (notshown) to be inserted into the well between the jaws 6 and 7. After thepipe has been in serted'a sufficient distance into the'well, pressure isremoved from the foot pedal which allows the jaws 6 and 7 to moveautomatically by gravity into engagement with the pipe and the downwardpull of the pipe as caused by the weight of same bringing the jaws 6 and7 into firm engagement with i the pipe and hold same at any desiredheight.

The many uses and advantages of my improved pipe clamp will, I think, beunderstood without further explanation.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is A deviceof the class described comprising a frame consisting of a pair of spacedparallel side walls cut away at their ends, a pair of angular end wallsren'iovably secured in position between said sidewalls to form anenclosure, av pair of segmental complementary clamping jaws pivotallysupported between the side walls adjacent their ends, said jaws havingcentral V-shaped grooves therein, said grooves taperingnarr'ower towardtheir ends and being, corrugated throughout their length, threadedopenings formed at predetermined, portions in the outer .face of each ofsaid jaw segments, a pair of segmental plates adapted for applicationrespectively to the sides oi saidjaws, said plates being provided withopenings adapted for registration with the aforesaid openings, sorewsentering the registering openings securely retaining said plates to thejaws, teeth formed on the peripheral edges of said segmental platesadapted to mesh with one another, and a foot lever keyed to the axis ofone of said segmental jaws beyond the one side wall of said frame,whereby to actuate said jaws, as and for the purposes described.-

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

TEMPLE SHARP,

